SynthesisPloS one2021

Cardiovascular outcomes associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors versus other glucose-lowering drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes: A real-world systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chun-Xing Li, Shuo Liang, Lingyan Gao, Hua Liu

Open access · goldFull text readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2021. The graph read 9 numbers from its abstract, feeding 3 cells of the map, but none could be read as for or against, so it casts no vote. Cited by 39 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

9numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
39citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
9.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

Read, but not usablea number the graph found but could not read as for or against

Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.750.72 to 0.78P<0.001
Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF.
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.830.71 to 0.98P<0.001
SGLT-2i significantly reduced the risk of severe hypoglycemia (OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.69,0.90, P<0.001) and lower limb amputation (OR, 0.83; 95% CI 0.71,0.98, P<0.001), but it may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Hypoglycaemiacomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.780.69 to 0.90P<0.001
SGLT-2i significantly reduced the risk of severe hypoglycemia (OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.69,0.90, P<0.001) and lower limb amputation (OR, 0.83; 95% CI 0.71,0.98, P<0.001), but it may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.560.48 to 0.67P<0.001
Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF.
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.580.49 to 0.69P<0.001
Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF.
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.770.73 to 0.81P<0.001
Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF.
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds one cell of the map
OR 0.560.46 to 0.68P<0.001
Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF.
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
OR 0.530.49 to 0.57P<0.001
SGLT-2i reduced MACE (OR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.67,0.75, P<0.001) and ACM (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.49,0.57, P<0.001) compared to other glucose lowering drugs (oGLD).
Cardiovascular eventscomparator not stated · ascvd, t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
OR 0.710.67 to 0.75P<0.001
SGLT-2i reduced MACE (OR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.67,0.75, P<0.001) and ACM (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.49,0.57, P<0.001) compared to other glucose lowering drugs (oGLD).

clause the extractor read what became the number

2 · Its place on the map

Where it lands on the map

Rows are treatments, columns are outcomes. The coloured squares are the cells this paper feeds, coloured by the vote it casts there. Click one to jump to what this paper adds to it.

supports the treatmentfavours the comparatorno clear differenceread, but no usable result
3 · What it changes

What it adds to each cell

For every cell the paper feeds: the belief in the claim with and without this paper, and this paper's estimate drawn against every other readable study in the cell. The ringed dot is this paper.

Other glucose-lowering×cardiovascular events

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

No other readable study in this cell yet. This paper is the evidence.

Belief with this paperNo claim has been compiled for this cell yet.

SGLT2 inhibitors×cardiovascular events

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

22 readable studies in this cell: 9 favour the treatment, 11 find no difference, 2 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.50contested · 9 families support, 6 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the comparatorfavours the treatment →
1 · no effect
NCT0546531762,197 enrolled · 2022
HR 0.750.65 to 0.86
NCT0399313226,774 enrolled · 2018
HR 1.010.91 to 1.11
NCT0173053417,190 enrolled · 2013
HR 0.930.84 to 1.03
NCT0493781616,746 enrolled · 2021
HR 1.000.83 to 1.20
NCT045096746,522 enrolled · 2020
HR 0.900.76 to 1.06
NCT036192136,263 enrolled · 2018
HR 0.820.73 to 0.92
NCT030579515,988 enrolled · 2017
HR 0.790.69 to 0.90
NCT019897545,813 enrolled · 2014
HR 0.720.55 to 0.94
NCT020657914,401 enrolled · 2014
HR 0.700.59 to 0.82
NCT010326294,330 enrolled · 2009
HR 0.930.78 to 1.12
NCT045647424,017 enrolled · 2020
Win Ratio (WR) 1.341.20 to 1.50
NCT030579773,730 enrolled · 2017
HR 0.750.65 to 0.86

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

SGLT2 inhibitors×hypoglycaemia

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

9 readable studies in this cell: 5 favour the treatment, 4 find no difference, 0 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.00contested · 0 families support, 2 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
1 · no effect
NCT0546531762,197 enrolled · 2022
HR 0.900.71 to 1.16
NCT009688121,452 enrolled · 2009
OR 0.100.06 to 0.16
NCT02580591977 enrolled · 2015
IRR 0.940.67 to 1.31
NCT02268214833 enrolled · 2014
OR 3.092.10 to 4.56
NCT02460978815 enrolled · 2015
OR 2.711.81 to 4.06
NCT02414958730 enrolled · 2015
IRR 0.740.52 to 1.07
NCT04233801219 enrolled · 2020
OR 1.760.68 to 4.55

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

4 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

5 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

39 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 75 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Trial
  6. Review
  7. Hyperkalemia and maintenance of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor therapy after initiating SGLT-2 or DPP-4 inhibitors.Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association · 2025
    Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Observational
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Observational
  14. Review
  15. Review
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Review
6 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

7 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Chun-Xing LiDepartment of Pharmacy, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China.
Shuo LiangDepartment of Pharmacy, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China.
Lingyan GaoDepartment of Pharmacy, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China.
Hua LiuDepartment of Pharmacy, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4932-1318
Aerospace Center Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

8 · The paper itself

Abstract

The marked sentences are the ones the graph read a number from.

BACKGROUND AND

aimsGlucose lowering agents that reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) would be considered a major advance. The reduction of cardiovascular risk by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) has been confirmed by some large-scale randomized controlled studies (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs, but exact indicators of cardiovascular risk remained controversial. Whether consistent results can be obtained in clinical practice is unclear. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we analyzed the real-world effect of SGLT-2i on cardiovascular outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

methodsWe did a real-world systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome of SGLT-2i in patients with T2DM. We searched PubMed and Embase for trials published up to October 23, 2019. Data search and extraction were completed with a standardized data form and any discrepancies were resolved by consensus. The primary outcome was MACE and all-cause mortality (ACM). Secondary outcomes were hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cardiovascular mortality (CVM), unstable angina (UA), heart failure (HF). Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs were pooled across trials, and cardiovascular outcomes were stratified by baseline incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), usage rate of cardiovascular benefit drug, follow-up period and region.

resultsFourteen trials enrolling 3,157,259 patients were included. SGLT-2i reduced MACE (OR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.67,0.75, P<0.001) and ACM (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.49,0.57, P<0.001) compared to other glucose lowering drugs (oGLD). Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF. SGLT-2i significantly reduced the risk of severe hypoglycemia (OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.69,0.90, P<0.001) and lower limb amputation (OR, 0.83; 95% CI 0.71,0.98, P<0.001), but it may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Subgroup analysis showed SGLT-2i reduced the risk of MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM and HF with a similar benefit regardless of the incidence of CVD was (20-30)% or < 15%, (15-30)% or <15% have been treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), >80% or <70% have been treated with statins or both GLP-1RA and statins. SGLT-2i reduced the risk of ACM in low-risk population (P<0.001). No inconsistencies were found when stratification was performed at 1 or (3-4) years of follow-up except for BKA followed up for 1 year. SGLT-2i showed similar cardiovascular benefits in the Nordic countries, Asia and the United States.

conclusionsThe predominant impact of SGLT-2i is on cardiovascular outcome driven predominantly by reduction in MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM, HF, but not UA or AF. SGLT-2i has robust benefits on reducing MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM and HF regardless of a history of usage rate of GLP-1RA and/or statins and /or metformin. SGLT-2i does not increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia and lower limb amputation.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesCardiovascular SystemDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV InhibitorsGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsGlucoseHeart FailureHumansHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminMyocardial InfarctionRisk FactorsSodium-Glucose Transporter 2 InhibitorsDipeptidyl-Peptidase IV InhibitorsGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsGlucoseHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminSodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID33606705
PMCPMC7895346
OpenAlexW3131557571

What Socratic holds

Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.